24-hour strike in Greece shuts down airports, throwing Israeli airlines into chaos amid pre-Passover travel rush

A nationwide general strike in Greece disrupts public services across the country, with ferries tied up in port, flights grounded and public transportation running only part-time as labor unions press for an end to lingering austerity measures imposed on Greece by international creditors a decade ago.

The 24-hour strike, called by the two main umbrella unions covering the public and private sectors, has thrown international airlines into chaos as commercial flights to and from Greece and between domestic destinations have been canceled from midnight Wednesday until midnight Thursday.

Israeli airlines have been caught up in the turmoil, as some 25 flights had been scheduled to depart for airports across Greece on Wednesday, ahead of the Passover holiday according to Ynet.

According to Israeli tourism website Lametayel, some 7,500 Israelis are scheduled to fly to or from Greece for Passover, which begins on Saturday night.

In a statement, El Al says it is “making adjustments” to its flight schedule and that of its subsidiary Sun D’or to ensure that flights could still take place. It said passengers booked to travel to Greece on Wednesday would be given the details of their alternative flight.

Budget option Arkia Airlines says that passengers should expect “delays in takeoffs and landings” and will be updated as necessary, while Israir said yesterday that it was “making every effort to find alternative solutions,” and that customers would receive their updated flight information by the early evening.

The 24-hour strike was called by the two main umbrella unions covering the public and private sectors. They are seeking increases in salaries and a full return of collective bargaining rights which were scrapped as part of international bailouts during Greece’s financial crisis.

The country is currently battling a hike in the cost of living amid concern that global financial turmoil triggered by US tariffs could lead to further hardship.